16:17 Punchestown

Sunday 7 June 2026

All13:2213:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:5217:27

John Dowling Memorial Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 5m 46.40s

Ajp Falco⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: John Shinnick| T: D H Kelly

40/1

Well held both starts in bumpers and has failed to complete in 2 maiden hurdles, behind when pulled up after 4 out at Listowel (2½m) 8 days ago.

Form: 00/FP

C Pas Possible²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Kinirons

11/1

Night Wish gelding who finished last of 5 finishers in his only point last month. Has a fair standard to aim at on Rules debut.

Form: 5

Captain Hanley^h,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E O'Connell

7/1

Fair maiden at best up to 12.5f on the Flat and ran to a similar level when runner-up at Clonmel (19f) on hurdling debut last month, the winner scoring again next time. Unseated rider early at Kilbeggan a week ago, but he's worth another chance up in trip.

Form: 2U

Glenary Prince⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead

3/1

Sent off at big odds (125/1) on debut and was well beaten when seventh of 25 in maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (2½m) in April. However, he's entitled to be much sharper with that first outing behind him.

Form: 7/

Jerry From Kerry¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 108

3/1

Fairly useful bumper winner for Emmet Mullins. Making first run for current trainer, showed more than on first 2 starts in maiden hurdles when fourth of 15 at Killarney in May, though wasn't in quite the same form at Ballinrobe 12 days ago. Could yet do better up in trip.

Form: 486F/45

Le Questionnaire¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Sexton| T: G Elliott| OR: 106

11/4

Placed both starts in British points and left hurdling debut effort behind when runner-up in a 2m Tramore maiden in April. Stayed on to fill the same position over 19f at Downpatrick 16 days ago and he merits consideration up in distance.

Form: 3202/2

Les Issards⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Harvey| T: E D Delany

28/1

€20,000 3-y-o, €28,000 5-y-o, Cokoriko gelding. Dam, multiple bumper winner in France, half-sister to French hurdler/chase winner (17f-21f winner) Vieux Frere. Third on his sole start in points in March, so he's one to note.

Form: 3/

Maison De Balzac^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Lamon⁽⁷⁾| T: A Sexton| D

125/1

Winning pointer but went with little encouragement when twelfth of 15 maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe (2¾m) on Rules debut 13 days ago. Cheekpieces reached for.

Form: 2PP12/0

Raleagh Scope^p1,h1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder| T: C A McBratney| OR: 85

250/1

Little impact in maiden hurdles last year and, after a spell in points (well beaten both completed starts), fared no better in blinkers when eleventh of 15 back hurdling at Downpatrick (19f) 16 days ago. Hood/cheekpieces now the choice of headgear.

Form: 0900/0

Will Wilde^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: Liz Doyle| OR: 110

11/2

Bumper winner who has shown fair form over hurdles, including when sixth of 20 in handicap at Leopardstown (23f) back in December 2024. After 17-month absence (in cheekpieces which are now discarded), pulled up in 3m maiden at this course 25 days ago. This run should reveal more.

Form: 082P6/P

Talladega¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle| T: C Bowe

66/1

€3,000 3-y-o, Jukebox Jury mare. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Knockanore (winner up to 33f) and fair hurdler Calicojack (2m winner), stays 2½m. Dam unraced. Pulled up all 3 starts in points, with the latest 2 weeks ago.

Form: PP/P

Non-Runners

Little Big John¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: M Magnussen J: Liam Quinlan

Forecasts

Le Questionnaire (11/4), Jerry From Kerry (3/1), Glenary Prince (3/1), Will Wilde (11/2), Captain Hanley (7/1), C Pas Possible (11/1), Les Issards (28/1), Ajp Falco (40/1), Talladega (66/1), Little Big John (100/1), Maison De Balzac (125/1), Raleagh Scope (250/1)

Preference is for CAPTAIN HANLEY, who matched his fair form on the Flat when runner-up at Clonmel on his hurdling debut last month. He is taken to build on that promise at the second attempt and can see off the challenge of Le Questionnaire, who promises to be suited by this extra distance, with Jerry From Kerry also considered.